Searching for a laptop with a dedicated graphics card ( Q & A )

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  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
       #1

    Searching for a laptop with a dedicated graphics card ( Q & A )


    1) What is your budget?
    < $1000

    2) What size notebook would you prefer?
    >= 15"

    3) Any brands that I prefer?
    Toshiba, Sony ( willing to accept others )

    4) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
    Video editing, Audio editing, Game design, Gaming, College work

    5) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
    Taking it to different places

    6) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
    Yes. Self-designed Games, C&C Red Alert 3, CoD type games

    7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
    At idle, 3 hours

    8) What OS do you prefer?
    Windows 7 Home Premium

    9) Would you prefer Standard or Widescreen?
    Widescreen

    10) What screen resolutions would you prefer?
    >= 1152 x 856

    11) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
    No.

    12) How much hard drive space do you want?
    >= 500GB

    13) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD, Blu-Ray or HD-DVD drive?
    If already installed, no. If, not, then all of the above supported.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #2

    F4SHAD0 said:
    1) What is your budget?
    < $1000 under 1000 for a video editing gaming laptop isnt much

    2) What size notebook would you prefer?
    >= 15"

    3) Any brands that I prefer?
    Toshiba, Sony ( willing to accept others )

    4) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
    Video editing, Audio editing, Game design, Gaming, College work (means video card not chipset so increased cost)

    5) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
    Taking it to different places

    6) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
    Yes. Self-designed Games, C&C Red Alert 3, CoD type games

    7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
    At idle, 3 hours

    8) What OS do you prefer?
    Windows 7 Home Premium

    9) Would you prefer Standard or Widescreen?
    Widescreen

    10) What screen resolutions would you prefer?
    >= 1152 x 856

    11) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
    No.

    12) How much hard drive space do you want?
    >= 500GB

    13) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD, Blu-Ray or HD-DVD drive?
    If already installed, no. If, not, then all of the above supported.
    Laptops arent the best platform for gaming or video editing. to get the same results as a desktop the costs skyrocket. $1000 for a desktop can be done, for a laptop more like $1500.


    Good Luck

    Ken J
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I know, but I'm willing to sacrifice a few things. I say a dedicated graphics card so I could upgrade it if need be without buying a whole new computer all together.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 14
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #4

    Your best bet would be an Asus laptop. They always put decent GPU's in their machines. I'm too lazy to find one specifically for you, but that will put you in the right direction.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks guys. You we're a real help.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,018
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #6

    The closest match I found considering $1000 as a budget with a vertical resolution higher than 856 is Newegg.com - HP Pavilion dv7-4180us NoteBook Intel Core i5 460M&#40;2.53GHz&#41; 17.3&#34; 4GB Memory 640GB HDD 5400rpm BD Combo ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650. Anything with a better video card and/or higher resolution that I searched would be over $1000. Sometimes, you may get lucky and get a great deal under $1k but you have to keep an eye on Newegg (or other retailers) for these special promotions.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
       #7

    When you say dedicated graphics card, are you wanting a higher-end card or lower end? Because the integrated (chipsets?) are getting pretty close to some of the lowest end dedicated cards...

    F4SHAD0 said:
    1)
    9) Would you prefer Standard or Widescreen?
    Widescreen

    10) What screen resolutions would you prefer?
    >= 1152 x 856
    16:10 widescreen (old widescreen)? Or 16:9 (HD, Full HD etc)?

    Oh and why the odd resolution?

    Imho, your best two companies if you're wanting a cheaper laptop with a reasonable card are msi and ASUS. I do believe you'll get slightly better value for money under msi as well.

    Oh and a comparison on graphics cards to batteries.
    A standard 6-cell battery with a ATi 5450 (lowest end dedicated card of the newer range) will last about 3.5 hours depending on whatever else you're running (estimate based on personal experience).
    9-cell with 5870 card (highest end card of the newer series), around 2 hours.

    Hope that helps
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Again, thanks for the response guys.
    @Fuzzball - I didn't know it was an odd resolution, I'm used to using a widescreen laptop at 1280 x 800 pixel resolution. I would like a high-end graphics card, but willing to accept a low-end chipset. That way, you guys won't feel like you're doing all the work for me ( sorry it you feel that way ) and I can decide what I need. Like my grandma used to say, "No blessing has been granted without the individual first putting forth the effort."

    P.S. My current laptop uses 16:10 widescreen.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 31
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
       #9

    The most common laptop resolution nowadays is 1366x768 (16:9). The bigger 16:9 is 1920x1080, which is Full HD, normally only coming on more expensive laptops.
    The only common 16:10 is 1680x1050. Occasionally theres a 1440x900, but it's more rare now.

    The problem with a high-end graphics card is the heat it creates and battery that it uses. Most laptops with a high end card you can't put on your lap or something like that (because it gets too warm and it needs air flow). High GPUs as I just said, use up a LOT of battery, so you'd have to reduce your 3 hour battery time if you wanted the best.
    But for what you want, I'd recommend something between a ATi 5650 and 5770 (or a nVidia 330), which shouldn't use up TOO much battery.

    I'll do a quick hunt around on a couple sites to see what I can find
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 301
    7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #10

    I think you will be making a mistake, and I speak from experience. I spent $800 on my mobile gaming rig (would have cost me well over $1,000 to get the same specs elsewhere, believe me I looked)... while it has served me well, it does have its limitations and drawbacks. For instance, my hardware CAN handle games in High and/or Ultra (the ones I play, TES IV: Oblivion, DAOrigins/Awakening etc.)... but what it cannot handle, as with 99% of mobile PC's, is the HEAT! It's the CPU... that's the problem. There's just not enough room in these things to fit the system with an adequate heat sink and this results in the CPU frequently reaching TJunction Max and shutting itself down, hard.

    If you don't care about actually getting your money's worth before it fries out (if you force it to do what it simply cannot), then by all means go for it. But I'm telling you, for that price, you can build a Desktop rig with SIGNIFICANTLY better specifications and hardware and which can actually put out what you've put in.

    Don't get me wrong... love my Notebook and its served me very well for the price paid, but its just a real shame that I can't squeeze ALL of the potential performance out of it that I paid for because of the inadequate heat dissipation issue. And don't think more $$$$ is going to help with that problem because ALL mobile gaming rigs suffer from it (I don't care if its a $500 or $3,000 system, they ALL are packed in like sardines and that's the core problem).


    Up to you, but I'm telling you you'll regret it and end up dropping the same or more amount of money on a proper rig for gaming once you experience all of the problems with gaming on a mobile PC. Good luck in whatever you decide.

    Also, if you are adamant about the mobile gaming rig... do yourself a favor and check into Acer. They charge way less than the competition for a lot more hardware/performance quality. Mine hasn't had an issue yet, other than the heat (and again, which ALL mobile PC's suffer from).
      My Computer


 
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